TOURS

Experience a tour

PRESERVATION LAB

Based on strong public demand and a wildly enthusiastic response to its Museum Vault Tours, the State Historical Building opened its Battle Flag Preservation Laboratory to the general public in January 2005.

The behind-the-scenes walking tour is presented by battle flag project staff members. It offers an entertaining and educational presentaton on how Iowa’s Civil War, Spanish-American War and WWI battle flags are preserved.

Participants will be able to hear the exiting history of the flags, view in-progress stabilization treatments, and gain an understanding of how the flags are meticulously assessed, stabilized and preserved for storage and future exhibition.

Tours of the Battle Flag Preservation Laboratory are offered at 1:30 pm on the third Saturday of every month.

Tickets are $20 per person, or $18 for members of the State Historical Society of Iowa. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the work involved with stabilizing and preserving Iowa’s historic battle flags, each tour is limited to 10 participants, ages 7 and older. Tours fill-up quickly, so make reservations in advance!

Reservations are available by calling 515-283-1757 or visiting the State Historical Building’s Museum Store.

Weekday group tours are available. Contact Hillary Liepa, 515-281-3809 or Hillary.Liepa@iowa.gov for more information and reservations.

* The tours run about 1.5 hours
* No photography or food allowed